What is an IP 3CX?
An IP 3CX is a complete telephony system that provides telephone calls over IP data networks. All conversations are sent as data packets over the network. The technology includes advanced communication features but also provides a significant dose of worry-free scalability and robustness. The IP 3CX is also able to connect to traditional PSTN lines via an optional gateway, so we can upgrade your business communication to the most advanced voice and data network easily.
You don’t need to disrupt your current external communication infrastructure and operations. With an IP 3CX system from C2 Communications, you can even keep your regular telephone numbers. This way, the IP 3CX switches local calls over the data network inside the enterprise and allows all users to share the same external phone lines.
How it works
An IP 3CX consists of one or more SIP phones, an IP 3CX server and optionally a VoIP gateway to connect to existing PSTN lines. The IP 3CX server functions in a similar manner to a proxy server. SIP clients, being either softphones or desk phones, register with the IP 3CX server, and when they wish to make a call they ask the IP 3CX to establish the connection. The IP 3CX has a directory of all phones / users and their corresponding SIP address and thus is able to connect an internal call or route an external call via either a VoIP gateway or a VoIP service provider.
Benefit #1: Much easier to install & configure than a proprietary phone system
An IP 3CX runs as software on a computer and can leverage the advanced processing power of the computer and user interface as well as features. C2 Communications takes care of installing and maintaining your IP C3X.
Benefit #2: Easier to manage because of web / GUI based configuration interface
An IP 3CX can be managed via a web-based configuration interface or a GUI, allowing you to easily maintain and fine tune your phone system. Proprietary phone systems have difficult-to-use interfaces which are often designed to be used only by phone technicians.
Benefit #3: Significant cost savings using C2 Communications VoIP
With an IP 3CX, you can easily use the VoIP of C2 Communications for long distance and international calls. The monthly savings are significant. If you have branch offices, you can easily connect phone systems between branches and make free phone calls.
Benefit #4: Eliminate phone wiring
An IP phone system allows you to connect hardware IP phones directly to a standard computer network port (which it can share with the adjacent computer). Software phones can be installed directly on the PC. You can now eliminate the phone wiring and make adding or moving of extensions much easier. In new offices, you can completely eliminate the need for wiring extra ports to be used by the office phone system.
Benefit #5: Eliminate vendor lock-in
IP 3CX is based on the open SIP standard. You can mix and match any SIP hardware or software phone with the SIP-based IP 3CX, PSTN gateway or C2 Communications VoIP. In contrast, a proprietary phone system often requires proprietary phones to use advanced features, and proprietary extension modules to add features.
Benefit #6: Scalable
Proprietary systems are easy to outgrow. Adding more phone lines or extensions often requires expensive hardware modules. In some cases you need an entirely new phone system. Not so with an IP 3CX from C2 Communications. A standard computer can easily handle a large number of phone lines and extensions – just add more phones to your network to expand.
Benefit #7: Better customer service & productivity
With an IP 3CX you can deliver better customer service and better productivity. Since the system is now computer-based, you can integrate phone functions with business applications. For example, bring up the customer record of the caller automatically when you receive his / her call, dramatically improve customer service and cut costs by reducing time spent on each caller. Outbound calls can be placed directly from Outlook, removing the need for the user to type in the phone number.
Benefit #8: Twice the phone system features for half the price
Since an IP 3CX is software-based, it is easy for C2 Communications to add and improve feature sets. The 3CX phone system comes with a rich feature set, including auto-attendant, voice mail, ring groups, and advanced reporting. Unified Communications features are included, to support presence, video and audio conferences and free calls via the data network. These options are often very expensive in proprietary systems.
Benefit #9: Allow hot desking & roaming
Hot desking, the process of being able to easily move offices / desks based on the task at hand, has become very popular. Unfortunately, traditional PBXs require extensions to be re-patched to the new location. With an IP 3CX, the user simply takes his phone to his new desk – no patching required.
Users can roam too – if an employee has to work from home, he / she can simply fire up their SIP software phone and is able to answer calls to their extension, just as they would in the office. Calls can be diverted anywhere in the world because of the SIP protocol characteristics.
Benefit #10: Better phone usability
Employees often struggle using advanced phone features. Setting up a conference, or transferring a call on an old PBX requires detailed instructions. Not so with an IP 3CX – all features are easily performed from a user-friendly GUI. In addition, users get a better overview of the status of other extensions, of inbound calls, call queues, and presence via the apps. Proprietary systems often require expensive “system” phones to get an idea what is going on on your phone system and even then, status information is cryptic at best.
Conclusion
Investing in a software-based IP 3CX from C2 Communications makes a lot of sense, not only for new companies buying a phone system, but also for companies who already have a PBX. An IP 3CX delivers such significant savings in management, maintenance, and call costs, that upgrading to an IP 3CX should be the obvious choice for any business.
